First attempt at article writing, would appreciate helpful criticism
It really isn't all about you. If someone gives you this article to read what they are trying to tell you is, "IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU." Do not feel bad everyone has the same problem, myself included. We want to know how this or that will impact "ME". Sadly, we have become the "me" generation. A generation that in fact spans all age groups. We are in the age of "I want," "where's mine," " what about me?" We have evolved from the pack mentality to the every dog for himself mindset.

The new crop of reality shows really drives this home, especially the ones that pit humans against each other. There is one called the "Biggest Loser" about people losing weight. The premise is to lose weight, get healthy, feel better about YOU, but in the process see how you can scheme, plot and eliminate your teammates. On most of these shows money is usually the incentive to bring out the worst in people. The real reality is it is in them all the time. Money can only enhance what is already there. Television is now our medium to see what the average person will do for the proverbial fifteen minutes of fame and the temptation of riches.

In all fairness, most of us cannot help the "It's all about me" attitude. We have slowly been indoctrinated into it. The last time I remember functioning as a group (barring terrorist attacks) with the feeling of we are all in this together was in the late seventies early eighties when gas prices were high. We took the bus, or bought fuel efficient cars, carpooled, and picked up each other's children or dry cleaning if they/it were on the way. We were concerned about each other's property and fed the dog or cat if our neighbor was out of town. That was then, now the gas prices are almost as high as I have ever seen them, yet on most days when we are jetting off to work there is one person per car including the big SUV gas hogs. Carpooling? Please, I might have to talk to you.

I believe it all started with jobs, and trying to stay employed. The companies that were considered "good jobs" car manufactures, utillites, government positions, the ones if you were fortunate to get, you could retire from. The job market became so competitive that people had to be willing to move to a new location to follow the job or start anew. The young soon-to-be college graduates were taught that length of stay on a job was the least important thing to be concern with. They were taught their focus should be more on what they had to bring to the table and who they knew at the table. The term "YUPPIES", Young-Upwardly-Mobile-Professionals, said it all. Have cash will travel. Loyalty became a thing of the past on both sides of the fence with employer and employees. A trend that created high turnover in the job market and a sense of eat or be eaten. The coworker you were hanging out with today could be your boss tomorrow. Everyone's mantra became "I have got to stay in the game, because I have bills to pay" and if that meant stepping over or on you, so be it. Moving families to new locations and new schools to follow the job sometimes did not afford the opportunity to meet and get to know neighbors or bond with new classmates.

The popularity and now the necessity of computers has sealed the "it's all about me" deal. You can find jobs, love, worship, hobbies, games and whatever else online. All these things you can do by yourself, and some other things that I will not mention. The computer unintentionally, (I hope) has created a people disconnection. We were basically created to need and help one another through this maze called life.

I see it in the young and the old. Parents make deals with children to get them to clean their rooms and do their homework. There has to be enough incentive in it for them to comply. A possible B+ report card can get a sixteen year old their own car, which inclues high insurance. The talk shows are full of anguish of how this life, the one that was given to me, is not working out for me. I need a new nose, bigger/smaller bust, rear whatever. I once had a friend who said she was having a bad day because she did not know what to get another friend whose husband had been killed in a car accident. I know of a elderly couple who after the husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's the wife said, "He'll be okay, but what about me?"

In the end, it truly will be "what about me". All that we did on this earth will be judged, and surprisingly enough it will be about what did we do for others. The one reality show that I like and it always leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy, is "The Extreme Home Makeover" show. I do not know how much is staged but when people come together by the hundreds to help a family in need, it shows us that deep down it is about " NEED" not about "ME". I need you and you need me.
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